Archive for the ‘Kidney Stones’ Category

I found this article today on Kidney Stones – funnily enough I sort of agree that generally home remedies are not enough to be beneficial short term, but clinically I’ve found the coke and asparagus treatment beneficial for clients over the past 10 years. So I disagree that it doesn’t work. I do however, recommend the general recommendations of apple cider vinegar (if not allergic/intolerant); lemon juice and olive oil in our diets; and herbal teas such as Stone Breaker tea are great – available at New Leaf (the lemon juice and olive oil cleanse is more for gall stones and only when appropriate). It takes a long time to break down kidney stones and the coke and asparagus treatment (done on ONE day – not multiple days – so long term it won’t have an effect as long as we rehydrate!)

We also use supplements that support better kidney and bladder health and re-alkalise the body (a full cleanse often takes 2 years! Not these quick few weeks – this will NOT help prevent kidney stones)

With regards to the coke and asparagus treatment – it’s VERY specific and sometimes needs to be done once per month over a series of months if the stones are large or there are multiple stones

We would recommend Looking at your Blood and performing an OligoScan – finding out where the mineral levels in your body are, and looking at toxicity. Kidney issues are about toxicity of one form or another…

We would also look at acupuncture and kinesiology to improve kidney energy and functionality – and microcurrent treatments to support breaking down the stones – along with teas and supplements to start the process of breaking down the kidneys.

Keep in mind that the kidney is the FOURTH filter in the body – the first is the digestive tract, the second is the liver, the third is the lymphatic system and the FOURTH is the kidneys/urinary tract. So you are less likely to have kidney issues if all of your other filters are working correctly…

If the body is too acidic and we are creating kidney stones – this is only one problem we have. Acidity creates many other health issues other than kidney stones, and we really need to look at WHY the body is so acidic: stress, diet, intolerances and allergies, drug and medication use, PTSD, hayfever, sinusitis, chronic infections, lack of purified water…

4 Remedies to Dissolve Kidney Stones… But Only One Works

By Ellie Olejarczyk PA-C

You’re experiencing severe abdominal pain that’s radiating to your lower back. You also notice blood in your urine and a persistent need to urinate, even though you can only urinate small amounts at a time. You have a history of kidney stones and are pretty sure you are experiencing them again. Not wanting to use medications or surgery to treat your kidney stones, you start to look for successful home remedies that dissolve kidney stones naturally and fast. Four treatments look promising:

Which ones work and which ones don’t? We’ve done the testing and leg work to sort out the success rates of each of these treatments.

Why Do I Get Kidney Stones?

Our kidneys are essential organs that filter out the waste in our bloodstream. The byproduct of this waste is our urine. Stones develop from buildup of mineral deposits in our urine that stick together in the kidneys. Typically, these stones develop because of a lack of water that dilutes the accumulation of these minerals on the lining of our kidneys. Certain medications, medical disorders (e.g., Crohn’s Disease), and a family history of kidney stones can also increase your chances of suffering from them.

Because they are known to cause a great deal of pain, it is no surprise that those who suffer from kidney stones are will to try just about anything to prevent them and to stop them from coming back. Known medicinal treatments include the use of alpha-blockers such as Flomax that relax the lining of the ureter to help stones pass more easily, and medications that treat the associated pain. Additionally, surgical procedures and other non-intrusive means of surgical treatment may be prescribed to break up both calcium oxalate and uric acid kidney stones. These treatments include ureteroscopy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

Preventative measures used to halt the formation of kidney stones to begin with include dietary changes and behavioral changes. These include things like decreasing sodium intake, drinking more water to stay properly hydrated, not working out excessively, not going into saunas (to prevent excessive sweating and dehydration), and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

What are the Symptoms?

Kidney stone sufferers may tell you that trying to pass a kidney stone is about the worst pain they have ever experienced in their lifetime. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of kidney stones include the following:

Sudden, severe pain that comes and goes in intensity. Common areas afflicted include the back, groin, abdomen, side, and genitals.

Nausea and vomiting

Blood in the urine or abnormal urine colors

Frequent and painful urination

Though kidney stones are not normally life-threatening situations, they are typically a truly uncomfortable situations. And it’s not unusual to experience so much pain that you make your way to the emergency room to find out what is going on.

Alternate Remedies for Kidney Stones

Increasingly more people are interested in following at-home treatments for kidney stones to prevent the use of medicines and surgeries. A number of alternative remedies have been acknowledged for the treatment of kidney stones. We will present these below and discuss their likelihood in success.

1. Lemon Juice and Olive Oil

Sounds awful, doesn’t it? People do claim success in mixing a concoction of lemon juice and olive oil to help dissolve kidney stones as a popular home remedy. Proponents of this method claim that at the first notice of symptoms, mix five ounces of olive oil with five ounces of lemon juice. Drink this combination straight and then drink a glass of water. You should blend this concoction and drink it straight first thing in the morning and again in the late afternoon. Be sure to drink plenty of water as well and extra lemon juice, if possible. Continue this treatment for several days until the stone passes. It is thought that the lemon juice could break down the kidney stones and the olive oil would aid in lubrication to pass the stone more easily. Extra-virgin olive oil is thought to be the best olive oil ingredient to use because it is the thickest and healthiest.

Warning: Lemons are very acidic and can destroy tooth enamel and contribute to heartburn or ulcers.

Our patient surveying indicates some success in a very limited number of kidney stone patients. We give it 2 out of 5 stars.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Makes your mouth pucker just thinking of it. Some home remedy enthusiasts swear by the use of apple cider vinegar to treat kidney stones. The theory behind it is that apple cider vinegar is made of citric acid that which could play a role in dissolving kidney stones, helping the body pass the stones more easily. In addition, it is believed that apple cider vinegar helps in the prevention of kidney stones to begin with by alkalizing the effect on blood and urine and promoting the production of hydrochloric acid in the body to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Proponents of this home remedy recommend mixing two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with six to eight ounces of water and drinking the mixture frequently throughout the day, and especially before meal times to help dissolve kidney stones. Drinking ample amounts of fresh water throughout the day is also suggested to help flush the kidneys. If the stones are passed, you are advised to continue drinking this solution one to two times a week to prevent future kidney stones from forming.

Warning: Apple cider vinegar is very acidic and can erode esophagus tissue, destroy tooth enamel and may be dangerous when taken with blood pressure and diabetes medications.

Surveys indicate sporadic success in some patients who have been waiting long periods of time for a stone to pass. We give it 2 out of 5 stars.

3. Coke and Asparagus

Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? A common home remedy for kidney stones involves drinking a large amount of Coke and following it up by consuming a half pound of steamed asparagus, pureed. Followers of this method suggest that the phosphoric acid found in Coke aids in dissolving the kidney stones. Asparagus is used as a diuretic. Coke alone will dehydrate you, which is not a good thing if you are suffering from kidney stones. It is the interaction with the diuretic asparagus and the phosphoric acid in the Coke that is the key to breaking down the kidney stone and allowing it to pass. In theory.

We’ve seen no evidence that Coke or asparagus provides any help in the passage or dissolving of kidney stones. The University of Chicago characterized this home remedy as “useless” and went on to say:

“…the effect of the cola was a worsening of stone risk…”

We give this remedy 1 out of 5 stars.

How Successful are These Treatments?

In short. . .not very. There have been many reports of people using these natural methods, but the efficacy is unsubstantiated. Some people report success with these home remedies, but none of these treatments are based in scientific fact. For every anecdotal success story posted online, there are hundreds more stories of failures (and probably upset stomachs). So, what natural remedies DO work? Let’s get to it…

4. Lab Grade Chanca Piedra

Lab grade chanca piedra has shown high success rates in kidney stone treatment. This herbal remedy breaks down and prevents the development of new kidney stones. All-natural, Chanca Piedra has been shown to scientifically crush the kidney stones to dissolve them and allow easy passing of remnant stone materials. Studies have shown almost instantaneous pain alleviation following the consumption of Chanca Piedra. It first grabbed the attention of the scientific community in a 2002 study on rodents which demonstrated it slowed or halted kidney stone growth. Further studies indicated lab grade Chanca Piedra actually interferes with the process that would normally cause stones to form.

Prof. Dr. Nestor Schor

Professor Dr. Nestor Schor speaking about his research on lab grade Chanca Piedra:

“Treatment with Phyllanthus niruri strongly inhibited the growth of the stones and reduced the number of stones…“

“These results show that Phyllanthus niruri has an inhibitory effect on crystal growth…“